A man who ate “very extreme amounts of fat and proteins” as part of the carnivore diet, suddenly developed yellow nodules on the palms of his hands – deposits of surplus cholesterol under his skin, says his doctor.
The nameless patient, who is in the forty, ate up to 6 to 9 pounds a day, plus sticks butter and other fat that he would add to his daily hamburgers, says Dr. Kostas Marmagkiolis, an interventional cardiologist at Tampa General Hospital, USF Health and Tampa Heart in Florida, who treated him.
Tests discovered that the total blood cholesterol of the man was more than 1,000, one of the highest results that Marmagkiolis has ever seen. Healthy levels for adults are less than 200.
“This patient was not aware that his cholesterol was so high,” Marmagkiolis tells Today.com and noted that he had normal cholesterol for many years.
“Within a year, his cholesterol increased abruptly, and at the same time those lesions appeared. We must therefore assume – based on the history of this patient – that those lesions were directly caused by the high cholesterol, which was directly caused by the type of diet he was (eating). “
The patient developed yellow nodules in the folds of his palms – deposits of excess cholesterol under his skin.
For eight months the man followed the carnivore diet-a no-cabbage hydrate plan that focuses on eating only animal products, especially meat, eggs and some dairy products; And exclude fruit, vegetables and grains. It means that eating a lot of saturated fat, which can increase cholesterol, registered registered dietitian Kristin Kirkpatrick.
The patient said he had waste, had more energy and had experienced an improved mental clarity, according to a case report in Jama Cardiology. But his doctor for primary care saw the fat yellow bumps on his hands and referred him to Marmagkiolis.
Warning signal of high cholesterol
The yellow deposits under the skin are a red flag for cardiologists to check the cholesterol level, says Marmagkiolis.
“We believe that this is a way of the body to eliminate the extra cholesterol from the bloodstream when it cannot process it,” he notes.
When the bumps appear on eyelids, the most common location, they are called Xanthelasmas.
This file image shows Xanthelasma on the eyelid.
Why they appear on other parts of the body, including hands, elbows and soles of feet, they are called Xanthomas.
Only about 1% of patients with high cholesterol will develop these nodules, with a genetic predisposition that plays a role, says Marmagkiolis.
The yellow deposits themselves are completely painless and harmless – they are just a visual signal of a possible metabolic disorder, he adds. As soon as they appear, they generally do not leave, but they can be removed by a dermatologist.
In the case of this patient, the bumps indicated “an amazing amount of cholesterol in his bloodstream,” the cardiologist notes. In general, such extreme levels are an urgent condition that needs immediate medical help, says Marmagkiolis.
This patient had a total blood cholesterol of more than 1,000, about five times the healthy level for adults.
High cholesterol leads to plaque building in the arteries, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Doctors advised the patient to immediately switch to a more balanced diet and take medicines to lower cholesterol.
Is a carnivore diet healthy?
Many people are interested in the carnivore diet and other keto diets because they feel full while they are losing weight, says Marmagkiolis. The lack of carbohydrates forces the body to burn fat for energy instead of glucose.
Other advantages are eliminating sugar, refined grains and ultracrocede feed, which are linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes, says Kirkpatrick.
The carnivorous diet offers nutrients such as riboflavine, zinc, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, selenium and vitamin A; But it lacks magnesium, calcium, vitamin C and fiber, have found studies.
People can experience food disorders because they cut vegetable foods, which contain a lot of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, Kirkpatrick notes. Not eating enough vegetables can lead to poor intestinal health and constipation, she adds.
In general, patients who follow such extreme diets run a much higher risk of abnormal cholesterol levels, says Marmagkiolis.
Dr. Jeremy London, a heart surgeon in Georgia who was not involved in the case report, says that Carnivore diet can work for some, but most people will be healthiest in eating a balance between nutrients.
“Our body is made to be performed on proteins, fats and carbohydrates,” London tells today.com.
“Everything in extreme will rarely be useful. … in general, if you concentrate on entire foods where you eat lean meat, leafy vegetables, vegetables and fruit and fiber, you will do it well. “
The Mediterranean diet is the healthiest, both doctors say, point to studies that show benefits for the heart and then.
People who are still interested in following the carnivore diet must keep an eye on their cholesterol profile with blood tests and consult a dietician or a doctor who can follow the effects of eating only animal products, says Marmagkiolis.
This article was originally published on Today.com
